Fire escape



Dec. 28 1926. 1,612,126

C. A. JAMES FIRE ESCIPE Filed Oct. 19. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. Z8, 1926.

FME..

CHARLES A. JAMES, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FXRE ESCAPE.

Application filed October 19,1925. Serial No. 63,272.

My invention relates to fire escapes and its objects are to provide simple, compact and strong lire escape apparatus which may be quickly passed out of a window for use, which occupies a small space when not 1n use, and which may be mounted in a room beneath a window, and, when not in use, serves as a stand for flower pots or vother household articles.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which f Figure 1 is a central sectional view throughfire escape apparatus made in accordance with my invention showing it attached in a room beneath a window,

Figure 2 a like view showing the fire escape apparatus in position for use,

Figure 3 a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 a section on line 4 4 of Fivure 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a window, 2 a window sill, 3 the sill board mounted beneath the sill, 4 the wall of the room below the window and 5 my fire escape apparatus secured to the board 3, the wall 4 and the floor of the room.

The lire escape apparatus includes aV casing 6 which is preferably secured to the wall 4 and the floor by angle clips 7. The casing has vertical guideways 8 which are formed by guideway strips 9 secured to each end of the casing. These strips have their upper ends 10 shaped to t the sill board 8 and are secured thereto. A flexible ladder 11 has a chain 12 at its upper end connected to a rod 13 between its ends at 14 and having its ends 15 slidably mounted in guideways 8. `When the ladder is placed into the casing, rod 13 will slide to the bottom of guideway 8 and allow the first rung 16 of the ladder to pass down to and rest on the bottom of the casing and the remainder of the rangs to be compactly stacked thereon in the casing as shown in Figure 1. rlhis avoids danger of the rungs of the ladder becoming stuck by jamming in the casing when it is necessary to quickly pass the ladder out the window for use. A lid 17 closes the upper end of the casing and serves as a stand for flower pots or as a support for other articles. Bells or vother alarm devices 18 may be attached to the lower end of the ladder to give warning that the ladder is being passed out the window.

To use the ladder, it is merely necessary to open lid 17 and pass the ladder from the casing out the window as shown in Figure 2. When the upper end of the ladder leaves the casing, rod 13 will slide from the bottom upwardly in guideway 8 until it abuts the upper end of the guideway. The persons in the building may then climb through the window and down the ladder. When the ladder is not in use, it is placed in the casing as shown in Figure 1. During the placing of the ladder into the casing, rod 13 will slide down the guideway and allow the upper rung of the ladder to rest at the bottom 'of the casing so that the remainder `of the rungs may be compactly stacked one on the other.

It will be seen that by slidably connecting the upper end of the ladder to a casing, the ladder may be compactly stacked into the casing and requires a comparatively small casing to enclose the same.

While l have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence l do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. ln a fire escape, a flexible ladder having flat treads, a casing for enclosing the ladder, vertical guideways in the casing adapted to be rigidly secured beneath the sill of a window, a supporting member connected by flexible means to the ladder and slidably mounted in the guideways, whereby said member may be slid to the top of the guideways when the ladder is used, and returned to the bottom of the casing when the ladder is stored therein.

2. In a lire escape, a ladder having side ropes with lungs secured therebetween, a easing for enclosing the ladder, Vertical gudeways n the easing adapted to be rgid- 5 ly secured beneath the sill of a. Window, a rigid red connected by flexible means to the ladde` and sldably mounted in the guide- W ys, whereby said rod will slide to the top of the gudeways when the ladder is used and 1etu1'n to the bottom of the easing When 10 the ladder is stered therein.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my nzune te this Specification.

CHARLES A. JAMESe 

